Difference between revisions of "Guadeloupe" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(import, credit and claim for Alessandro Peruffo)
 
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| area                    = 1,628
 
| area                    = 1,628
 
| foot                    =
 
| foot                    =
−
<ref name=sans>Figure without the territories of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] detached from Guadeloupe on [[February 22]], [[2007]].</ref>
+
<ref name=sans>Figure without the territories of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] detached from Guadeloupe on February 22, 2007.</ref>
 
| area_scale              = 9
 
| area_scale              = 9
−
| Regional president      = [[Victorin Lurel]]<br>([[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]) (since [[2004]])
+
| Regional president      = [[Victorin Lurel]]<br/>([[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]) (since 2004)
 
| population_rank          = 23rd
 
| population_rank          = 23rd
 
| population_census        = 386,566<ref name=sans/>
 
| population_census        = 386,566<ref name=sans/>
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}}
 
}}
 
'''Guadeloupe''' is an [[archipelago]] located in the eastern [[Caribbean Sea]] at {{coor dm|16|15|N|61|35|W|type:country}}, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629&nbsp;[[square mile|sq.&nbsp;mi]]).<ref name=sans/> It is an [[overseas department]] of [[France]].  As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six [[regions of France]] (being an [[overseas regions of France|overseas region]]) and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the [[European Union]]; hence its currency is the [[euro]].<ref>Guadeloupe is pictured on all [[Euro banknotes]], on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomiation.</ref> Guadeloupe is however not party to the [[Schengen Agreement]].
 
'''Guadeloupe''' is an [[archipelago]] located in the eastern [[Caribbean Sea]] at {{coor dm|16|15|N|61|35|W|type:country}}, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629&nbsp;[[square mile|sq.&nbsp;mi]]).<ref name=sans/> It is an [[overseas department]] of [[France]].  As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six [[regions of France]] (being an [[overseas regions of France|overseas region]]) and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the [[European Union]]; hence its currency is the [[euro]].<ref>Guadeloupe is pictured on all [[Euro banknotes]], on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomiation.</ref> Guadeloupe is however not party to the [[Schengen Agreement]].
 +
 +
 +
== Geography ==
 +
Guadeloupe comprises five [[island]]s: [[Basse-Terre]], [[Grande-Terre]] (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel called Salt River) with the adjacent islands of [[La Désirade]], [[Les Saintes]] and [[Marie-Galante]].
 +
 +
Basse-Terre has a rough [[volcanic]] relief, while Grande-Terre features rolling hills and flat plains.
 +
 +
Further to the north, [[Saint-Barthélemy]] and the French part of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint Martin]] once came under the jurisdiction of Guadeloupe but on December 7, 2003, both of these areas voted to become an overseas territorial collectivity. [http://www.statoids.com/ugp.html]<br/>
 +
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
{{main|History of Guadeloupe}}
+
[[Image:Guadeloupe1.png|thumb|300px|In green (with red legend) are the former constituent parts of the Guadeloupe region/department among the [[Leeward Islands]]. On February 22, 2007, [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] seceded from Guadeloupe, but [[Marie-Galante]], [[La Désirade]], and [[Les Saintes]] are still part of the Guadeloupe region/department.]]
 +
[[Image:Guadeloupe map.png|thumb|right|Map of the Guadeloupe archipelago]]
 +
 
 +
During his second trip to America [[Christopher Columbus]] became the first European to land on Guadeloupe in November 1493, seeking fresh water. He called it ''Santa María de Guadalupe de Extremadura'', after the image of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] venerated at the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe|monastery of Villuercas]], in [[Guadalupe, Extremadura]]. However, the expedition set ashore just south of Capesterre but did not leave any settlers ashore.
  
−
During his second trip to America [[Christopher Columbus]] became the first European to land on Guadeloupe in November [[1493]], seeking fresh water. He called it ''Santa María de Guadalupe de Extremadura'', after the image of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] venerated at the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe|monastery of Villuercas]], in [[Guadalupe, Extremadura]]. However, the expedition set ashore just south of Capesterre but did not leave any settlers ashore.
+
After successful settlement on the island of St Christophe (St Kitts), the French American Islands Company delegated Charles Lienard and Jean Duplessis, Lord of Ossonville to colonize one or any of the region’s islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique or Dominica. Due to Martinique’s inhospitable nature, the duo resolved to settle in Guadeloupe. The French took possession of the island in 1635 and wiped out many of the Carib amerindians. It was annexed to the kingdom of France in 1674. Over the next century, the island was seized several times by the [[United Kingdom|British]]. One indication of Guadeloupe's prosperity at this time is that in the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] (1763), France, defeated in war, accepted to abandon its territorial claims in [[Canada]] in return for British recognition of French control of Guadeloupe{{Fact|date=April 2007}}.
  
−
After successful settlement on the island of St Christophe (St Kitts), the French American Islands Company delegated Charles Lienard and Jean Duplessis, Lord of Ossonville to colonize one or any of the region’s islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique or Dominica. Due to Martinique’s inhospitable nature, the duo resolved to settle in Guadeloupe. The French took possession of the island in [[1635]] and wiped out many of the Carib amerindians. It was annexed to the kingdom of France in [[1674]]. Over the next century, the island was seized several times by the [[United Kingdom|British]]. One indication of Guadeloupe's prosperity at this time is that in the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] ([[1763]]), France, defeated in war, accepted to abandon its territorial claims in [[Canada]] in return for British recognition of French control of Guadeloupe{{Fact|date=April 2007}}.
+
In 1790, the upper classes of Guadeloupe refused to obey the new laws of equal rights for the free colored and attempted to declare independence, resulting in great disturbances; a fire broke out in [[Pointe-à-Pitre]] and devastated a third of the town, and a struggle between the monarchists (who wanted independence) and the republicans (who were faithful to revolutionary France) ended in the victory of the monarchists, who declared independence in 1791, followed by the refusal to receive the new governor appointed by Paris in 1792. In 1793, a slave rebellion started, which made the upper classes turn to the British and ask them to occupy the island.
  
−
In [[1790]], the upper classes of Guadeloupe refused to obey the new laws of equal rights for the free colored and attempted to declare independence, resulting in great disturbances; a fire broke out in [[Pointe-à-Pitre]] and devastated a third of the town, and a struggle between the monarchists (who wanted independence) and the republicans (who were faithful to revolutionary France) ended in the victory of the monarchists, who declared independence in [[1791]], followed by the refusal to receive the new governor appointed by Paris in [[1792]]. In [[1793]], a slave rebellion started, which made the upper classes turn to the British and ask them to occupy the island.
+
In an effort to take advantage of the chaos ensuing from the [[French Revolution]], Britain attempted to seize Guadeloupe in 1794 and held it from April 21 to June 2. The French retook the island under the command of [[Victor Hugues]], who succeeded in freeing the [[Slavery|slave]]s. They revolted and turned on the slave-owners who controlled the [[sugar]] plantations, but when American interests were threatened, [[Napoleon]] sent a force to suppress the rebels and reinstitute slavery. [[Louis Delgrès]] and a group of revolutionary soldiers killed themselves on the slopes of the Matouba volcano when it became obvious that the invading troops would take control of the island. The occupation force killed approximately 10,000 Guadeloupeans in the process of restoring order to the island.
  
−
In an effort to take advantage of the chaos ensuing from the [[French Revolution]], Britain attempted to seize Guadeloupe in [[1794]] and held it from [[April 21]] to [[June 2]]. The French retook the island under the command of [[Victor Hugues]], who succeeded in freeing the [[Slavery|slave]]s. They revolted and turned on the slave-owners who controlled the [[sugar]] plantations, but when American interests were threatened, [[Napoleon]] sent a force to suppress the rebels and reinstitute slavery. [[Louis Delgrès]] and a group of revolutionary soldiers killed themselves on the slopes of the Matouba volcano when it became obvious that the invading troops would take control of the island. The occupation force killed approximately 10,000 Guadeloupeans in the process of restoring order to the island.
+
On February 5, 1813 the British once again seized the island and held it until March 3, 1813, when it was ceded to [[Sweden]] as a consequence of the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Sweden already had a colony in the area, but merely a year later Sweden left the island to France in the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]] of 1814. An ensuing settlement between Sweden and the British gave rise to the [[Guadeloupe Fund]]. French control of Guadeloupe was finally acknowledged in the [[Treaty of Vienna]] in 1815. Slavery was abolished on the island in 1848 at the initiative of [[Victor Schoelcher]]. Today the population of Guadeloupe is mostly of African origin with an important European and Indian active population. Lebanese, Chinese, and people of many other origins are also present.
  
−
On [[February 5]], [[1813]] the British once again seized the island and held it until [[March 3]], [[1813]], when it was ceded to [[Sweden]] as a consequence of the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Sweden already had a colony in the area, but merely a year later Sweden left the island to France in the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]] of [[1814]]. An ensuing settlement between Sweden and the British gave rise to the [[Guadeloupe Fund]]. French control of Guadeloupe was finally acknowledged in the [[Treaty of Vienna]] in [[1815]]. Slavery was abolished on the island in [[1848]] at the initiative of [[Victor Schoelcher]]. Today the population of Guadeloupe is mostly of African origin with an important European and Indian active population. Lebanese, Chinese, and people of many other origins are also present.
+
On February 22, 2007 the [[communes of France|communes]] of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] were officially detached from Guadeloupe and became [[overseas collectivity|overseas collectivities]] separate from Guadeloupe.
  
−
On [[February 22]], [[2007]] the [[communes of France|communes]] of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] were officially detached from Guadeloupe and became [[overseas collectivity|overseas collectivities]] separate from Guadeloupe.
 
  
−
== Geography ==
+
== Politics ==
−
[[Image:Guadeloupe1.png|thumb|300px|In green (with red legend) are the former constituent parts of the Guadeloupe region/department among the [[Leeward Islands]] . On [[February 22]], [[2007]], [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] seceded from Guadeloupe, but [[Marie-Galante]], [[La Désirade]], and [[Les Saintes]] are still part of the Guadeloupe region/department.]]
+
{{Politics of Guadeloupe}}
−
[[Image:Guadeloupe map.png|thumb|right|Map of the Guadeloupe archipelago]]
 
−
Guadeloupe comprises five [[island]]s: [[Basse-Terre]], [[Grande-Terre]] (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel called Salt River) with the adjacent islands of [[La Désirade]], [[Les Saintes]] and [[Marie-Galante]].
 
  
−
Basse-Terre has a rough [[volcanic]] relief, while Grande-Terre features rolling hills and flat plains.
 
  
−
Further to the north, [[Saint-Barthélemy]] and the French part of [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint Martin]] once came under the jurisdiction of Guadeloupe but on [[December 7]], [[2003]], both of these areas voted to become an overseas territorial collectivity. [http://www.statoids.com/ugp.html]<br>
+
=== Foreign Relations ===
  
−
== Demographics ==
+
=== Military ===
−
(July 2006 estimates from the CIA World Factbook; note that these estimates disagree with official [[INSEE]] estimates and that they also include [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]])
 
−
{| class=wikitable
 
−
| [[Population]] ||colspan=3| 452,776
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=3| Age structure || ''0 to 14 years'' || 23.6% ||style=font-size:90%| male 54,725<br>female 52,348
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''15 to 64 years''      || 67.1% ||style=font-size:90%| male 150,934<br>female 153,094
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''65 years and older''  || 9.2%  ||style=font-size:90%| male 17,353<br>female 24,322
 
−
|-
 
−
| Population growth&nbsp;rate&nbsp;&nbsp; ||colspan=3| 0.88%
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Birth rate]] || 15.05 births ||rowspan=3 colspan=2| per 1,000 people
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Death rate]] || 6.09 deaths
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Migration|Net migration rate]] || -0.15 migrants
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=5| [[Sex ratio]]<br>{{smaller|(male:female)}} || ''at birth'' ||rowspan=2 colspan=2| 1.05
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''under 15 years''
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''15 to 64 years''      ||colspan=2| 0.99
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''65 years and older''  ||colspan=2| 0.71
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''Overall''            ||colspan=2| 0.97
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Infant mortality]] rate ||colspan=3| 8.41 deaths per 1,000 live births
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=3| [[Life expectancy]]<br>at birth || ''males'' ||colspan=2| 74.91 years
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''females''    ||colspan=2| 81.37 years
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''Overall''    ||colspan=2| 78.06 years
 
−
|-
 
−
| Total [[fertility]] rate  ||colspan=3| 1.9 children born per woman
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Demonym]]    ||colspan=3| Guadeloup'''''e'''''an(s) (''not'' Guadeloupians)
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Adjectival]] ||colspan=3| Guadeloupe, Guadeloupean
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=5| [[Ethnic group]]s<ref>Approximate figures as ethnicity is not polled during a French [[census]].</ref> || [[Blacks|''Black'']] / ''[[Mulatto]]'' ||colspan=2| 75%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''[[White people|White]]'' ||colspan=2| 11%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Tamil people|''Tamil'']] / ''[[East India]]n''  ||colspan=2| 9%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Lebanese people|''Lebanese'']] / ''[[Syrians]]'' ||colspan=2| 3%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Han Chinese|''Chinese'']] / ''others''          ||colspan=2| 2%
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=4| [[Religion]] || [[Roman Catholicism|''Roman Catholic'']] ||colspan=2| 91%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Protestantism|''Protestant'']] ||colspan=2| 5%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Hinduism|''Hindu'']] / [[African mythology|''African'']] ||colspan=2| 4%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | [[Jehovah's Witnesses|''Jehovah's Witnesses'']] ||colspan=2| 2%
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[Language]] ||colspan=3| [[French language|French]] (official) 99%, [[Creole language|Creole]] [[patois]]
 
−
|-
 
−
|rowspan=3| [[Literacy]]<ref>Defined as those aged 15 or over who can read and write; based on 1982 estimates.</ref> || ''males'' ||rowspan=3 colspan=2| 90%
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''females''
 
−
          |-
 
−
          | ''Overall''
 
−
|}
 
  
−
== Administrative divisions ==
+
=== Administrative divisions ===
 
[[Image:GuadeloupeVue.jpg|thumb|300px|View from Guadeloupe]]
 
[[Image:GuadeloupeVue.jpg|thumb|300px|View from Guadeloupe]]
 
Administratively, Guadeloupe is divided into [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]], [[Cantons of France|cantons]] and [[Communes of France|communes]]:
 
Administratively, Guadeloupe is divided into [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]], [[Cantons of France|cantons]] and [[Communes of France|communes]]:
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<br clear=all>
 
<br clear=all>
  
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== Politics ==
 
−
{{Politics of Guadeloupe}}
 
−
{| class=wikitable
 
−
! National holiday
 
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|colspan=3| [[Taking of the Bastille|Bastille Day]], [[14 July]] (1789)
 
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|-
 
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! Slavery&nbsp;Abolition&nbsp;Day
 
−
|colspan=3| [[27 May]] (1848)
 
−
|-
 
−
! Constitution<ref>[[French constitution]].</ref>
 
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|colspan=3| [[28 September]] (1958)
 
−
|-
 
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! Legal system
 
−
|colspan=3| [[French legal system|French]]
 
−
|-
 
−
! [[Suffrage]]
 
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|colspan=3| Universal at 18 years old
 
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|-
 
−
 
−
!rowspan=5| [[Executive branch]]
 
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| ''Chief of state''
 
−
| [[President of France|President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] <br>represented&nbsp;by Prefect [[Jean-Jacques Brot]]
 
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| since [[7 May]] [[2007]]<br>since [[12 June]] [[2006]]
 
−
|-
 
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| ''Head of government''
 
−
| President of&nbsp;the General&nbsp;Council [[Jacques Gillot]]<br>President of the Regional Council [[Victorin Lurel]]
 
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| since [[26 March]] [[2001]]<br>since [[22 April]] [[2004]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| ''Cabinet''
 
−
|colspan=2| n/a
 
−
|-
 
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| ''Elections''
 
−
|colspan=2 style=font-size:90%| French president elected by popular vote for seven-year term;<br>Prefect appointed by the French president on advice of the French [[Ministry of the Interior]];<br>General and Regional Council presidents elected by membership of those councils.
 
−
|-
 
−
| ''Election results''
 
−
|colspan=2| n/a
 
−
|-
 
−
 
−
!rowspan=3| [[Legislative branch]]
 
−
|colspan=2| [[Unicameral]] General Council (''Conseil général''; 42 seats)<br>Unicameral Regional Council (''Conseil régional''; 41 seats) ||style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| members elected by popular vote<br>to serve six-year terms
 
−
|-
 
−
| ''Elections''<ref>Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the [[French Senate|Sénat]]; elections last held September 2004, next due ?September 2013
 
−
: Percent of vote by party: n/a;
 
−
: Seats by party: n/a;
 
−
Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the [[French National Assembly|Assemblée nationale]]; elections last held [[9 June|9]]-[[16 June]] [[2002]], next due June 2007
 
−
: Percent of vote by party: n/a;
 
−
: Seats by party: RPR 2, PS 1, other right-wing parties 1</ref>
 
−
|colspan=2| General Council<div style=font-size:90%>
 
−
: last held March [[2004]], next due 2010</div>
 
−
Regional Council<div style=font-size:90%>
 
−
: last held [[28 March]] [[2004]], next due March 2008<ref>to elect half the membership.</ref></div>
 
−
|-
 
−
| ''Election results''
 
−
|colspan=2| General Council<div style=font-size:90%>
 
−
: Percent of vote by party: n/a
 
−
: Seats by party:
 
−
:: left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, PCG 3, PPDG 6
 
−
:: right-wing candidates 5, RPR 8, UDF 1
 
−
</div>Regional Council<div style=font-size:90%>
 
−
: Percent of vote by party:
 
−
:: PS 58.4%, UMP 41.6%
 
−
: Seats by party:
 
−
:: PS 29, UMP 12</div>
 
−
|-
 
−
 
−
! [[Judicial branch]]
 
−
|colspan=5 style=font-size:90%| Court of Appeal (''Cour d'Appel'') in [[Basse-Terre]];<br>Assize Court (''Cour d'assises'') in Basse-Terre to try [[Felony|felonies]], consisting of three judges and a popular jury;<br>Several [[first instance court]]s of varying competence levels, in Basse-Terre, [[Pointe-à-Pitre]], [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and Grand-Bourg.
 
−
|-
 
−
! [[Political parties]]
 
−
|colspan=5 style=font-size:90%| [[Guadeloupe Communist Party]]&nbsp;(PCG)&nbsp;· FGPS&nbsp;· Progressive Democratic Party&nbsp;(PPDG)&nbsp;· Union for a Popular Movement&nbsp;(UMP) (formerly the ''Rassemblement pour la Republique'', RPR)&nbsp;· Socialist Party&nbsp;(PS)&nbsp;· Union for French Democracy&nbsp;(UDF)
 
−
|-
 
−
! [[Pressure group]]s
 
−
|colspan=5 style=font-size:90%| Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe&nbsp;(ULPG)&nbsp;· General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers&nbsp;(CGT-G)&nbsp;· General Union of Guadeloupe Workers&nbsp;(UGTG)&nbsp;· Movement for Independent Guadeloupe&nbsp;(MPGI)&nbsp;· The Socialist Party
 
−
|-
 
−
! International<br>membership
 
−
|colspan=5| [[FZ]]&nbsp;· [[WCL]]&nbsp;· [[WFTU]]
 
−
|}
 
−
{{seealso|Colonial and Departmental Heads of Guadeloupe}}
 
−
 
−
== Culture ==
 
−
[[Image:Plage.Guadeloupe.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Beach in Guadeloupe]]
 
−
Guadeloupe's culture is probably best known for the islanders' literary achievements, particularly the poetry of [[Saint-John Perse]], the pseudonym used by [[Alexis Leger|Alexis Léger]]. Perse won the 1960 [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] "for the soaring flight and the evocative images of his poetry which in a visionary fashion reflects the conditions of our time."
 
−
 
−
Guadeloupe has always had a rich literary production prolonged today by many living writers, poets, novelists, essayists and journalists, among them Maryse Condé, Ernest Pépin and Simone Schwartz-Bart.
 
−
 
−
Also culturally important are the arts, particularly painting and sculpture. Famous painters and/or sculptors include Michel Rovelas, Claudie Cancellier, Jean-Claude Echard, Christian Bracy, Roger Arekian, les Frères Baptiste, Michelle Chomereau-Lamothe, Léogane, Pédurand, Nicole Réache, Victor Sainsily. Photographer and visual effects artist [[Karim Sahai]] of Weta Digital, New-Zealand, has worked on the visual effects of The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, X-Men, etc.
 
−
 
−
Music and dance are also very popular, and the widely accepted interaction of African, French and Indian<ref>Sahai, Sharad (1998).[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1998/2/1998-2-12.shtml Guadeloupe Lights Up: French-lettered Indians in a remote corner of the Caribbean reclaim their Hindu identity]. ''Hinduism Today'', Digital Edition, February 1998.</ref> cultures has given birth to some original new forms specific to the archipelago. Islanders enjoy many local dance styles including the [[quadrille]] "au commandement", zouk, zouk-love, ''toumbélé'', as well as all the modern international dances. Typical Guadeloupean music includes ''la [[biguine]]'' and ''gwo ka à la base''. Many international festivals take place in Guadeloupe, like the Creole Blues Festival, the Marie-Galante Festival, Festival Gwo-Ka Cotellon, etc. It goes without saying that all the Euro-French forms of art are also omnipresent in the melting pot.
 
−
 
−
Another element of the Guadeloupean culture is its dress. Women in particular have a unique style of traditional dresses, with many layers of colorful fabrics, now only worn on special occasions. On festive occasions they also wore a madras (originally the 'kerchief' from South India) head scarf tied in many different symbolic forms. The headdress could be done in many styles with names like the "bat" style, or the "firefighter" style, as well as the "Guadeloupean woman." Jewelry is also important, mainly of gold, in the Guadeloupean lady's dress, a product of European, African and Indian inspiration. Many famous couturiers like Devaed or Mondelo are Guadeloupeans.
 
−
 
−
Football (soccer) is popular in Guadeloupe. [[Thierry Henry]], a star of the [[French national football team|French National Team]] and Spanish League club [[FC Barcelona]], often visits, as his father Antoine was originally from the island.  [[Lilian Thuram]], a star football defender for [[French national football team|France]] and [[FC Barcelona]], was born in Guadeloupe.  The French national team and [[Manchester United]] striker, [[Louis Saha]], is also of Guadeloupean descent as is [[Swansea City]] goalkeeper [[Willy Gueret]]. The [[Guadeloupe regional football team|region's football team]] also experienced recent success, advancing all the way to the [[2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] semi-finals, where they were slightly defeated 1-0 by [[CONCACAF]] powerhouse, [[Mexican national football team|Mexico]]. Many valuable [[Athletics (track and field)|track and field athletes]], such as [[Marie-José Perec]], [[Patricia Girard-Léno]] and [[Christine Arron]], are also Guadeloupe natives.
 
  
 
== Economy ==
 
== Economy ==
 
[[Image:Chutes du Carbet.Guadeloupe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Carbet Falls]]
 
[[Image:Chutes du Carbet.Guadeloupe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Carbet Falls]]
 +
[[Image:Aéroport Guadeloupe.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Guadeloupe International Airport]]
 +
 
{{main|Economy of Guadeloupe}}
 
{{main|Economy of Guadeloupe}}
 
The economy of Guadeloupe depends on [[tourism]], [[agriculture]], [[light industry]] and [[services]]. It also depends on [[France]] for large subsidies and imports.
 
The economy of Guadeloupe depends on [[tourism]], [[agriculture]], [[light industry]] and [[services]]. It also depends on [[France]] for large subsidies and imports.
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Light industry features [[sugar]] and [[rum]], solar energy, and many industrial productions. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the youth. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
 
Light industry features [[sugar]] and [[rum]], solar energy, and many industrial productions. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the youth. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
  
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The [[country code top-level domain]] (ccTLD) for Guadeloupe is "[[.gp]]".
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The [[country code top-level domain]] (ccTLD) for Guadeloupe is "[[.gp]]."
  
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== Footnotes ==
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== Demographics ==
 +
(July 2006 estimates from the CIA World Factbook; note that these estimates disagree with official [[INSEE]] estimates and that they also include [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint-Martin]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]])
 +
 
 +
 
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== Culture ==
 +
[[Image:Plage.Guadeloupe.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Beach in Guadeloupe]]
 +
Guadeloupe's culture is probably best known for the islanders' literary achievements, particularly the poetry of [[Saint-John Perse]], the pseudonym used by [[Alexis Leger|Alexis Léger]]. Perse won the 1960 [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] "for the soaring flight and the evocative images of his poetry which in a visionary fashion reflects the conditions of our time."
 +
 
 +
Guadeloupe has always had a rich literary production prolonged today by many living writers, poets, novelists, essayists and journalists, among them Maryse Condé, Ernest Pépin and Simone Schwartz-Bart.
 +
 
 +
Also culturally important are the arts, particularly painting and sculpture. Famous painters and/or sculptors include Michel Rovelas, Claudie Cancellier, Jean-Claude Echard, Christian Bracy, Roger Arekian, les Frères Baptiste, Michelle Chomereau-Lamothe, Léogane, Pédurand, Nicole Réache, Victor Sainsily. Photographer and visual effects artist [[Karim Sahai]] of Weta Digital, New-Zealand, has worked on the visual effects of The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, X-Men, etc.
 +
 
 +
Music and dance are also very popular, and the widely accepted interaction of African, French and Indian<ref>Sahai, Sharad (1998).[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1998/2/1998-2-12.shtml Guadeloupe Lights Up: French-lettered Indians in a remote corner of the Caribbean reclaim their Hindu identity]. ''Hinduism Today'', Digital Edition, February 1998.</ref> cultures has given birth to some original new forms specific to the archipelago. Islanders enjoy many local dance styles including the [[quadrille]] "au commandement," zouk, zouk-love, ''toumbélé'', as well as all the modern international dances. Typical Guadeloupean music includes ''la [[biguine]]'' and ''gwo ka à la base''. Many international festivals take place in Guadeloupe, like the Creole Blues Festival, the Marie-Galante Festival, Festival Gwo-Ka Cotellon, etc. It goes without saying that all the Euro-French forms of art are also omnipresent in the melting pot.
 +
 
 +
Another element of the Guadeloupean culture is its dress. Women in particular have a unique style of traditional dresses, with many layers of colorful fabrics, now only worn on special occasions. On festive occasions they also wore a madras (originally the 'kerchief' from South India) head scarf tied in many different symbolic forms. The headdress could be done in many styles with names like the "bat" style, or the "firefighter" style, as well as the "Guadeloupean woman." Jewelry is also important, mainly of gold, in the Guadeloupean lady's dress, a product of European, African and Indian inspiration. Many famous couturiers like Devaed or Mondelo are Guadeloupeans.
 +
 
 +
Football (soccer) is popular in Guadeloupe. [[Thierry Henry]], a star of the [[French national football team|French National Team]] and Spanish League club [[FC Barcelona]], often visits, as his father Antoine was originally from the island.  [[Lilian Thuram]], a star football defender for [[French national football team|France]] and [[FC Barcelona]], was born in Guadeloupe.  The French national team and [[Manchester United]] striker, [[Louis Saha]], is also of Guadeloupean descent as is [[Swansea City]] goalkeeper [[Willy Gueret]]. The [[Guadeloupe regional football team|region's football team]] also experienced recent success, advancing all the way to the [[2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] semi-finals, where they were slightly defeated 1-0 by [[CONCACAF]] powerhouse, [[Mexican national football team|Mexico]]. Many valuable [[Athletics (track and field)|track and field athletes]], such as [[Marie-José Perec]], [[Patricia Girard-Léno]] and [[Christine Arron]], are also Guadeloupe natives.
 +
 
 +
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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{{French overseas departments and territories}}
 
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{{West Indies}}
 
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{{La Francophonie}}
 
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{{Regions of France}}
 
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{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
 
  
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<gallery>
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Image:Aéroport Guadeloupe.jpg|Guadeloupe International Airport
 
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[[Category:Nations and places]]
 
[[Category:Nations and places]]

Revision as of 19:59, 7 July 2007


Région Guadeloupe
Flag of Guadeloupe
(Region flag) (Region logo)
Location
Map of France highlighting the Region of Guadeloupe
Administration
Capital Basse-Terre
Regional President Victorin Lurel
(PS) (since 2004)
Departments Guadeloupe
Arrondissements 2[1]
Cantons 40[1]
Communes 32[1]
Statistics
Land area1 1,628 km²[1]
Population (Ranked 23rd)
 - January 1, 2006 est. ca. 405,000[1]
 - March 8, 1999 census 386,566[1]
 - Density (2006) 249/km²[1]
1 French Land Register data, which exclude lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers
France

Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at 16°15′N 61°35′W, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629 sq. mi).[1] It is an overseas department of France. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union; hence its currency is the euro.[2] Guadeloupe is however not party to the Schengen Agreement.


Geography

Guadeloupe comprises five islands: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel called Salt River) with the adjacent islands of La Désirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante.

Basse-Terre has a rough volcanic relief, while Grande-Terre features rolling hills and flat plains.

Further to the north, Saint-Barthélemy and the French part of Saint Martin once came under the jurisdiction of Guadeloupe but on December 7, 2003, both of these areas voted to become an overseas territorial collectivity. [1]


History

In green (with red legend) are the former constituent parts of the Guadeloupe region/department among the Leeward Islands. On February 22, 2007, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy seceded from Guadeloupe, but Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and Les Saintes are still part of the Guadeloupe region/department.
Map of the Guadeloupe archipelago

During his second trip to America Christopher Columbus became the first European to land on Guadeloupe in November 1493, seeking fresh water. He called it Santa María de Guadalupe de Extremadura, after the image of the Virgin Mary venerated at the Spanish monastery of Villuercas, in Guadalupe, Extremadura. However, the expedition set ashore just south of Capesterre but did not leave any settlers ashore.

After successful settlement on the island of St Christophe (St Kitts), the French American Islands Company delegated Charles Lienard and Jean Duplessis, Lord of Ossonville to colonize one or any of the region’s islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique or Dominica. Due to Martinique’s inhospitable nature, the duo resolved to settle in Guadeloupe. The French took possession of the island in 1635 and wiped out many of the Carib amerindians. It was annexed to the kingdom of France in 1674. Over the next century, the island was seized several times by the British. One indication of Guadeloupe's prosperity at this time is that in the Treaty of Paris (1763), France, defeated in war, accepted to abandon its territorial claims in Canada in return for British recognition of French control of Guadeloupe[citation needed].

In 1790, the upper classes of Guadeloupe refused to obey the new laws of equal rights for the free colored and attempted to declare independence, resulting in great disturbances; a fire broke out in Pointe-à-Pitre and devastated a third of the town, and a struggle between the monarchists (who wanted independence) and the republicans (who were faithful to revolutionary France) ended in the victory of the monarchists, who declared independence in 1791, followed by the refusal to receive the new governor appointed by Paris in 1792. In 1793, a slave rebellion started, which made the upper classes turn to the British and ask them to occupy the island.

In an effort to take advantage of the chaos ensuing from the French Revolution, Britain attempted to seize Guadeloupe in 1794 and held it from April 21 to June 2. The French retook the island under the command of Victor Hugues, who succeeded in freeing the slaves. They revolted and turned on the slave-owners who controlled the sugar plantations, but when American interests were threatened, Napoleon sent a force to suppress the rebels and reinstitute slavery. Louis Delgrès and a group of revolutionary soldiers killed themselves on the slopes of the Matouba volcano when it became obvious that the invading troops would take control of the island. The occupation force killed approximately 10,000 Guadeloupeans in the process of restoring order to the island.

On February 5, 1813 the British once again seized the island and held it until March 3, 1813, when it was ceded to Sweden as a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars. Sweden already had a colony in the area, but merely a year later Sweden left the island to France in the Treaty of Paris of 1814. An ensuing settlement between Sweden and the British gave rise to the Guadeloupe Fund. French control of Guadeloupe was finally acknowledged in the Treaty of Vienna in 1815. Slavery was abolished on the island in 1848 at the initiative of Victor Schoelcher. Today the population of Guadeloupe is mostly of African origin with an important European and Indian active population. Lebanese, Chinese, and people of many other origins are also present.

On February 22, 2007 the communes of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy were officially detached from Guadeloupe and became overseas collectivities separate from Guadeloupe.


Politics

Template:Politics of Guadeloupe


Foreign Relations

Military

Administrative divisions

View from Guadeloupe

Administratively, Guadeloupe is divided into arrondissements, cantons and communes:

  • Arrondissements of the Guadeloupe department
  • Cantons of the Guadeloupe department
  • Communes of the Guadeloupe department



Economy

Carbet Falls
File:Aéroport Guadeloupe.jpg
Guadeloupe International Airport


The economy of Guadeloupe depends on tourism, agriculture, light industry and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports.

Tourism is a key industry, with 83.3% of tourists visiting from metropolitan France, 10.8% coming from the rest of Europe, 3.4% coming from the United States, 1.5% coming from Canada, 0.4% coming from South America and 0.6% coming from the rest of the world.[3] An increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands.

The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, guinnep, noni, sapotilla, paroka, pikinga, giraumon squash, yam, gourd, plantain, christophine, monbin, prunecafé, cocoa, jackfruit, pomegranate, and many varieties of flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France.

Light industry features sugar and rum, solar energy, and many industrial productions. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the youth. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Guadeloupe is ".gp."


Demographics

(July 2006 estimates from the CIA World Factbook; note that these estimates disagree with official INSEE estimates and that they also include Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy)


Culture

Beach in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe's culture is probably best known for the islanders' literary achievements, particularly the poetry of Saint-John Perse, the pseudonym used by Alexis Léger. Perse won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the soaring flight and the evocative images of his poetry which in a visionary fashion reflects the conditions of our time."

Guadeloupe has always had a rich literary production prolonged today by many living writers, poets, novelists, essayists and journalists, among them Maryse Condé, Ernest Pépin and Simone Schwartz-Bart.

Also culturally important are the arts, particularly painting and sculpture. Famous painters and/or sculptors include Michel Rovelas, Claudie Cancellier, Jean-Claude Echard, Christian Bracy, Roger Arekian, les Frères Baptiste, Michelle Chomereau-Lamothe, Léogane, Pédurand, Nicole Réache, Victor Sainsily. Photographer and visual effects artist Karim Sahai of Weta Digital, New-Zealand, has worked on the visual effects of The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, X-Men, etc.

Music and dance are also very popular, and the widely accepted interaction of African, French and Indian[4] cultures has given birth to some original new forms specific to the archipelago. Islanders enjoy many local dance styles including the quadrille "au commandement," zouk, zouk-love, toumbélé, as well as all the modern international dances. Typical Guadeloupean music includes la biguine and gwo ka à la base. Many international festivals take place in Guadeloupe, like the Creole Blues Festival, the Marie-Galante Festival, Festival Gwo-Ka Cotellon, etc. It goes without saying that all the Euro-French forms of art are also omnipresent in the melting pot.

Another element of the Guadeloupean culture is its dress. Women in particular have a unique style of traditional dresses, with many layers of colorful fabrics, now only worn on special occasions. On festive occasions they also wore a madras (originally the 'kerchief' from South India) head scarf tied in many different symbolic forms. The headdress could be done in many styles with names like the "bat" style, or the "firefighter" style, as well as the "Guadeloupean woman." Jewelry is also important, mainly of gold, in the Guadeloupean lady's dress, a product of European, African and Indian inspiration. Many famous couturiers like Devaed or Mondelo are Guadeloupeans.

Football (soccer) is popular in Guadeloupe. Thierry Henry, a star of the French National Team and Spanish League club FC Barcelona, often visits, as his father Antoine was originally from the island. Lilian Thuram, a star football defender for France and FC Barcelona, was born in Guadeloupe. The French national team and Manchester United striker, Louis Saha, is also of Guadeloupean descent as is Swansea City goalkeeper Willy Gueret. The region's football team also experienced recent success, advancing all the way to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals, where they were slightly defeated 1-0 by CONCACAF powerhouse, Mexico. Many valuable track and field athletes, such as Marie-José Perec, Patricia Girard-Léno and Christine Arron, are also Guadeloupe natives.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Figure without the territories of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy detached from Guadeloupe on February 22, 2007.
  2. ↑ Guadeloupe is pictured on all Euro banknotes, on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomiation.
  3. ↑ Guadeloupe - Economie (in FR) (1998). Retrieved 2006-06-10.
  4. ↑ Sahai, Sharad (1998).Guadeloupe Lights Up: French-lettered Indians in a remote corner of the Caribbean reclaim their Hindu identity. Hinduism Today, Digital Edition, February 1998.


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